in my opinion is a rockin’ children’s museum. Took the family to the museum in Bloomington or Normal, not sure of the side of town we were on. Anyway, it was a blast. There were gyms, climbing areas, a doctor’s office, a splash pool, cars, trains, and kids running around like they were demon-possessed. Picture Chucky Cheese but without the awful pizza, terrible sounds and really bad games. It was a hoot. Why can’t Peoria do something like this. Yes, I know the Junior League is trying to get their own version, the Playhouse, but that appears stalled like our other museum.
People, in my opinion, give to the children’s museum here. It’s a hoot, educational (somewhat) and you know, it gives parents something to do on a winter weekend that doesn’t involve shopping. Imagine if they took the money raised for Lakeview, either put into the existing building or scrapped that plan all together and combined with the Junior League to build a rockin’ Children’s Museum on par with the one in Cincinnati? Wow. That would put Peoria and the surrounding area on the map. As my wife said, “I don’t think (boy’s name excluded) would get worked up over duck decoys.”
Anyway, it wasn’t much money, was a hoot and ultimate testament, my son screamed his head off because he didn’t want to leave. Ringing endorsement. I’ll be back. but I wish Peoria had one so we didn’t have to drive 45 minutes to get there. And if you don’t want a children’s museum how about an indoor play-land, a laser tag site, indoor putt-putt or something for us to do in the winter. Every year, during the summer, I enoy living here and forget that I hate the winters, not because of the snow but due to the lack of activity.
Put it downtown. Get some old warehouse, gut the place and make it all gritty on the outside and really swank and cool on the inside. Divvy it up so there are areas for all ages. Have a skatepark on one end, a laser tag in the middle and the playland on one side. Get guards and security to keep the riff-raff out and I think you might have something that work in the winter and even in the summer when people have stuff to do. I realize traveling sports teams take up time (believe me, I realize) but we need something. It’s a quality of life issue. And then, if you have that stuff around the warehouse district, you might have the other development Peoria craves.
Heck, I have no idea how to develop things but it seems to me to make more sense to have a single purpose museum than something that is trying to everything to all. Don’t get me wrong. I back Lakeview, and honestly believe it will get done and will rock when it is done. I just don’t see it being done in the next five years. I see it at least 10 years down the road, and I don’t know if the city can wait that long. Still, give them and the Junior League credit for trying.
8 Comments
December 31, 2007 at 12:25 am
[...] took his kids to the children’s museum in Bloomington/Normal and came away convinced Peoria needs a children’s museum: Put it downtown. Get some old warehouse, gut the place and make it all gritty on the outside and [...]
December 31, 2007 at 7:40 am
Oh, Mr. Subway…you can’t believe everything you read in the paper. The fund raising for the Peoria Playhouse has not stalled in the least. The project is still going forward and at full steam.
If you feel passionately about getting a museum up and running for all of our families, there are things you can do to help:
Come out to Borders at 10:30AM the first Saturday of each month for Playhouse Jr. It is completely free and a great way to entertain the kids for an hour or so. Playhouse Jr. is also a great support to the project. (I will be helping out a the next one on January 5th. I would love to meet you and your family and tell you more about this fantastic project that is happening.)
Join the mailing list at peoriaplayhouse.com to receive a great newsletter with activities for your kids and the latest information about what is happening with the project.
Buy a 2008 Playhouse planner. You will have to look it up on peoriaplayhouse.com. It is a really awesome planner that you have to see. (I would be more than happy to get one to you!) All the proceeds go directly to the Playhouse.
You are correct that this community needs a children’s museum. Give the Junior League all the credit in the world, but not for trying. Give them the credit for getting it done.
December 31, 2007 at 9:09 am
“Yes, I know the Junior League is trying to get their own version, the Playhouse, but that appears stalled like our other museum.”
It most definitely is not! We just move a little more quietly than some other projects because we’re not using public money, so we’re not in front of the city council every couple months. You probably only hear from us now and then.
Would you like to be on our mailing list? Can I send you an info packet? Swag for your little folks? We’ve just about finalized the exhibit plans, so there’s an awesome 100-page ginormo architectural book thing with all the exhibits laid out, very cool.
Shoot me an e-mail (I’ll get it fastest at laura AT petelle DOT com) and I’d be happy to talk with you or drop some stuff by for you and your fam. And even happier if I can get you involved, we need people who are enthusiastic about the museum!
December 31, 2007 at 9:48 am
Well, that’s great. Honestly, I am thrilled to hear the children’s museum is on track. The one in Normal is great but I see many ways it could be improved and frankly, I think we can do that. I have been to the one in Cinncy as well as the Science Center in St. Louis.
Based upon those trips, I believe something like that or the Magic House in St. Louis is what the city needs. It’s fun, educational and gives us parents something to do. That said, we also need an indoor play-yard or something for parents who just want to let their kids run around, beyond Chucky Cheese.
January 1, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Conductor- by all means check out the master plan drawings and schematic designs on the website and while you’re at it, sign up for the newsletter.
January 2, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I will check out the Junior League’s information. The notion of a children’s musem is just so right on so many levels. I hope it gets done and soon. One thing about this town is that things take forever. And by the time people do get something done, it’s been trashed so much that people are sick of it. So get going, Junior League..
January 12, 2008 at 12:04 am
What PEORIA needs is smarter, city, leadership and Someone with ” the balls ” to stand up to the Strip Mall interests. They’re the Ones, who despite Their projects, killing Downtown Peoria!
Peoria should be mandating ” mixed-use ” structures, like Every other progressive city across the globe, in Downtown and providing financial incentives to developers Who would rebuild ” urban ” developments in, surrounding, neighborhoods.
It’s appalling how, past and present, City Council and Development officials have cowered to ” big retail ” and self-serving developers at the expense of the, older, neighborhoods.
Downtown Peoria, despite the Civic Center, is all but dead!
January 12, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I think you are right in many respects but to be fair, the entire downtown has been put on hold for 10 years while the city fathers hope and dream for a museum. Once the decision is made to or pull the plug, I think you might see some movement. Granted, it might be too late but I think that’s the reason.